Lagos, Nigeria, June 5, 2024 – The Network of Youth for Sustainable Initiative (NGYouthSDGs) is excited to announce the launch of the “Empowering Youth Civil Society to Build Stronger Communities in Nigeria” project. With support from the German Missions in Nigeria, this initiative aims to equip youth-led civil society organisations (CSOs) in partnership with young people in their local communities to initiate, drive and transform policies that will lead to the implementation of Nigeria’s National Adaptation Plan (NAP) and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
Project Overview
The “Empowering Youth Civil Society to Build Stronger Communities in Nigeria” project will work with 15 youth organisations from Delta, Enugu, Kaduna, Ondo and Nasarawa states. Through carefully designed capacity development sessions, these youth organisations will learn how to support Nigeria’s National Adaptation Plan (NAP) and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). The trained CSOs will work together to mobilise young people and youth stakeholders in their states to facilitate the meaningful engagement of youth in the implementation of the NAP and NDCs including a National Sustainable Futures Dialogue with at least two hundred young people, therefore, raising awareness about the NAPs and the NDCs across the country.
Furthermore, the youth CSOs will be equipped with tools to work with their communities to create a Local Adaptation Plan of Action (LAPA) which will be shared with their state government ensuring young people are in the driver’s seat on policies that affect them. The project will also provide technical support to not just the state government but other government agencies and ministries like the Federal Ministry of Environment on effective dialogue and meaningful youth engagement in the implementation of the NAP and NDCs.
Alignment with NGYouthSDGs Mission
Joshua Alade, Founder of NGYouthSDGs, emphasises the critical role of youth in shaping Nigeria’s future. “If young people are aware of their rights, and they can communicate and mobilise other young people as servant leaders in their communities, they can build alliances and sit with decision-makers to create programs and policies that will help youth to lead and thrive. This project perfectly aligns with our mission to resource youth leaders and youth-led organisations to influence policies that enable young Nigerians to lead and thrive” says Alade.
The German government represented by its missions in Nigeria recognises that the youths are key stakeholders in the national adaptation process to climate change. In view of this, supporting NGYouthSDGs on these initiatives provides youths an opportunity to be empowered to contribute to national adaptation initiatives and climate change policy decisions within their contexts in Nigeria, thereby making room for forward-looking and prepared resources in the future.
The German Missions in Nigeria are providing essential funding for this project, showing their commitment to walk the talk when it comes to climate action and resourcing young Nigerians to be at the forefront of action. This support will help NGYouthSDGs strengthen its youth leadership initiative and equip youth with the tools they need to take social action in communities across Nigeria. At the end of this project, NGYouthSDGs hopes to strengthen the voices of young people and foster meaningful youth engagement in climate action in Nigeria, thus contributing to the global efforts against climate change.
Importance of the Project
With the looming threat of climate change, Nigeria and Africa face significant challenges that require urgent action. The project”Empowering Youth Civil Society to Build Stronger Communities in Nigeria” addresses these challenges by:
- Enhancing the capacity of youth CSOs to advocate for urgent climate action and meaningful engagement with government for ambitious climate policies.
- Raise awareness among young people, their peers and the broader community about climate issues and the importance of taking action.
- Create a Local Climate Action Network of youth organisations and actors to mobilise local support and implementation of community-based climate solutions.
- Support youth innovations that enhance climate change adaptation and mitigation.
As Nigeria continues to focus on environmental sustainability and climate action measures, this project underscores the importance of youth involvement in climate policy discussions and actions. The engagement of young people is vital to achieving resilience and sustainable development in Nigeria.
The “Empowering Youth Civil Society to Build Stronger Communities in Nigeria” project represents a significant step towards inclusive climate action and sustainable development. NGYouthSDGs, with the support of the German Missions in Nigeria, is committed to empowering young Nigerians to take an active role in shaping their future and combating climate change.
